A grant from NASA allowed educators to begin traveling in 2009 to rural Alaska communities with a digital portable planetarium, purchased by UAF in 2007 with funding from BP and ConocoPhillips.  The Digital STARLAB projection system and its 4-meter and 6-meter diameter domes can be easily transported as checked luggage or by small plane to more remote communities and set up in venues ranging from school gymnasiums to small community centers. It is the only system of its type in Alaska.

The grant supports development of an Alaska-specific planetarium program and "NASA Days" in rural communities over three years (2009-2011).  "NASA Days" include planetarium shows for schoolchildren designed to illustrate grade-specific space science concepts; educational materials and activities for teachers to be used throughout the school year; and an evening community science night with planetarium shows and activities highlighting current NASA research.

Planetarium presentations are available for K-12th grades.  Programs are 20-40 minutes in length, illustrate grade-specific science concepts and complement teachers' lessons.  Students cheer, whistle, and grin while learning about stars, planets and space science in the dome.

As part of our visit, we offer an evening of fun and learning for the whole community.  Participants enjoy hands-on activities outside the dome and planetarium shows in the dome. 

Activities are led by local volunteers.  Activities include:

• Van Gogh’s Starry Night
• Solar System on a String
• Constellation Tube
• Glow in the Dark Poster
• Build an Astrolabe

We are working with grant partners and schools throughout the state to reach a wide range of geographic locations.  Communities visited thus far include:

• Anderson
• Arctic Village
• Barrow
• Bethel
• Cantwell
• Cordova
• Delta Junction
• Dillingham
• Elim
• Fairbanks
• Fort Yukon
• Gambell
• Glenallen
• Haines
• Healy
• Kenai
• Kenny Lake
• Klukwan
• Kodiak
• Kotzebue
• Lake & Peninsula School District
  
  • District academic meet held in Newhalen.
  • Participating students from 14 communities:
  • Chignik Bay, Chignik Lake, Chignik Lagoon, Egegik, Igiugig, Kokhanok, Levelock, Newhalen, Nondalton, Pedro Bay, Perryville, Pilot Point, Port Alsworth, Port Heiden
• Little Diomede
• Lower Kalskag
• Minto
• Nikiski
• Nome
• North Pole
• Nuiqsut
• Pitka's Point
• St. Mary's
• Salcha
• Savoonga
• Shishmaref
• Sterling
• Stony River
• Teller
• Tetlin
• Togiak
• Tok
• Two Rivers
• Unalakleet
• Unalaska
• Upper Kalskag
• Valdez

Project Investigator:

• Dr. Robert Herrick, Associate Research Professor, Earth & Planetary Remote Sensing, UAF Geophysical Institute

Co-Investigator:

• Dr. Laura Conner, Research Assistant Professor, College of Natural Science & Mathematics, UAF (Former Head of Public Programs & Education Director, UA Museum of the North)

Principal Educator:

• Jennifer Arseneau, Education Program Leader, UA Museum of the North

Educator:

• Chris Cannon, Education Outreach Specialist, UA Museum of the North

Consultant:

• Joy Shockley, Cultural Program Director, Tanana Chiefs Conference

Evaluator:

• Angela Larson, Goldstream Group

Collaborators:

• Jennifer Carroll, College of Rural & Community Development, UAF
• Dr. Jonathan Dehn, Geophysical Institute, UAF
• Dr. Hajo Eicken, Geophysical Institute, UAF
• Dr. Patricia Heiser, Geography Department, UAF
• Dr. Dirk Lummerzheim, Geophysical Institute, UAF
• Roger Topp, UA Museum of the North

Advisory Committee:

• John Gallagher, Regional Starlab Educator; HS Science Teacher (WA); Mississippi State University  Instructor
• Chris Johnson, Koniag Inc. Chairman; Information Management Corporation President (Seattle)
• Stephanie Rudig, 5-6th Grade Gifted & Talented Teacher (Fairbanks)
• Dr. Michael Sfraga, UAF Geography Program Director

Contact:

• museum.education@uaf.edu

NASA grant sends digital planetarium to rural Alaska (UAF, 11/14/08)

UAF to take planetarium on tour of rural Alaska (APRN, 11/21/08)

UAF, NASA bring planetarium to rural Alaska (Sun Star, 12/2/08)

STARLAB Around the World: Alaska (STARLAB e-News, Spring 08)

Unalaska Students Get Unique Peek at Galaxy (APRN, 10/7/09)

A Place In Space (Photo & Caption) (Nome Nugget, 10/8/09)

Stargazers set for Science Night (Peninsula Clarion, 10/14/09)

Traveling stars and planets (Bristol Bay Times, 2/4/10)

‘NASA Days’ lets Alaska kids study the stars (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, 2/23/10)

Lesson Scripts (used with Starry Night Small Dome software)

• K-3 Script (.pdf)
• 4-6 Script (.pdf)
• 7-12 Script (.pdf)

Full Dome Aurora Borealis Movies

• Aurora 1 (.mp4)
• Aurora 2 (.mp4)

These scripts and media have been developed by UAMN. Download for educational use is permitted. Commercial or for profit use is prohibited.

Museum Education & Public Programs

museum.education@uaf.edu